Ellen Dean Miller

Ellen Dean Miller, age 64, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on October 11^th, 2019 due to Stage 4 Gastric cancer. She was born April 28 1955 in Evansville, Indiana to Charles Cochrum and Marjorie Moore. She met her longtime friend and love, Terry Max White, in the summer of 1978 and had 41 wonderful years together.

Ellen loved to love on people especially her grandchildren. They were her entire world. She enjoyed watching movies, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, WWE and about anything that involved spending time with them. She also enjoyed crafting and baking with her granddaughters. She really enjoyed taking old things and making them shine. Her hands and mind were rarely still with all the projects she had in mind. Music was a big part of Ellens life. If she wasn’t rocking out to Heart, Fleetwood Mac or Tom Petty she was performing on stage some of the best Karaoke you have ever heard. She was always the life of the party and supporter of crazy shenanigans. She also shared her love with food such as pizza and tacos with her grandsons, lasagna, homemade egg rolls and potato chips. Ellens Instagram profile reads “Grandma, Mother, Old Rock & Roller, Married Hippie and Gypsy at heart” I don’t think we could sum her up better if we tried.

For many years Ellen was a nurse. She started her career at Sturgis Hospice. In that position she was able to be the strength and calmness her patients needed in that final stage of life. Ellen truly cared and loved every one of her patients that she encountered while as a hospice nurse. After the 5 year mark she decided to move on from Hospice. She took several positons with Three Rivers Health that included River country Pediatrics, White Pigeon Family medical and Internal medicine. At each one of these positions she excelled and made a lasting impression leaving behind many coworkers who become friends. Ellen retired from nursing around 2010 and became a full time Grandma which was the greatest joy of her life.

Ellen is survived by her loving partner Terry White of Constantine, 3 daughters and son in laws, Gina Mcdonald and  Travis Keeter of Goshen, Indiana, Amy White and Brandon Wolfinger of Union, MI, Sarah Reiff and Lonnie Schmidtendorff of Jones, MI,; 7 wonderful grandchildren Terry Mcdonald, Shelby Keeter, Avery Reiff, Brady Reiff, Taryn Wolfinger, Nova Keeter and Josephine Schmidtendorff; Her siblings Georgia Moore, George Cochrum, Jackie Darr and Will Moore; Several nieces and nephews, Tasha Smith, Amber Griner, Nick Cochrum, Mike Cochrum, Megan Darr; Cassie and Brittany Cochrum. Ellen also had some pretty special friends near and dear to her heart, Michelle Born, Dana Sparling, Cheryl Boerner, Chris Otoole and so many more. Thank you for making her life the adventure it was.

She was preceded in death by her parents Charles Cochrum and Marjorie Moore; a younger brother Michael ”Mikey” Cochrum: Two nephews Luke Darr and Casey Moore.

Please join us in celebration of her life on November 9^th, 2019 from 2pm-6pm at the American Legion in Constantine, MI 49042.